UTB APPOINTS VINCENT MUGABA AS PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER

Vincent Mugaba has been appointed the Public Relations Officer of the Uganda Tourism Board ( UTB), management at UTB can exclusively reveal.

The member of the Public Relations Association of Uganda (PRAU) took charge last week and started with immediate effect .

He attended the launch of a publication at Ham Mukasa museum organised by Uganda Community Museum Association(UCOMA) and is coordinating the publicity of this year’s Martyrs celebrations.

Mugaba teams up with Edwin Muzahura, head of Marketing at UTB to boost Uganda as a preferred destination of choice .

His appointment is a relief to stakeholders who have for long anticipated and speculated the arrival of a PRO.

Prior to joining UTB, Vincent worked as Public Relations and Communications officer at Public Procurement & Disposal of Public Assets Authority(PPDA). He started his PR career at Uganda Christian University (UCU) where with his team they saw the University profile grow to be named among the top 100 universities in Africa, a position it had not held before.

The Namilyango College Old boy is popular among the respected media practitioners. He worked with the Baptist Student Ministry, True Love Waits, the New Vision, enteruganda.com, East African Procurement News, and the East African Business week. At the New Vision, Vincent rose from a freelance reporter at the New Vision to become the first website editor. Under his watch the New Vision websites (New Vision, Bukedde, Sunday Vision, Rupiny, Etop, Orumuri) took top position online, a position they have held on in their respective sectors. This was repeated at Procurement News and Business Week where headed the online section.

Vincent is an avid photographer, new media promoter—founding member of the media node on the I-network, an ICT sharing forum for media. He has also been recognised for his new media work and was nominated for the Highway Africa Awards, South Africa.

Welcome Vince! For tourism discussions and PR strategies  link up  via vmugaba@tourismuganda.info

Source: http://prauganda.com/eapra/presenters/151-vincent-mugaba.html

IHAMBA LAKESIDE SAFARI LODGE SCOOPS INTERNATIONAL GOLD

The CEO of Ihamba, Lydia Ngabirano receiving the award

Uganda’s eco-friendly accommodation, Ihamba Lakeside Safari Lodge  has added another feather to Uganda’s tourism cap as it received global acclaim at the 29th International Quality Summit Convention New York on May 25, 2015.

The International Quality Summit Award was presented to Ihamba Safari Lodge  in the ‘Gold’ category in recognition of having a solid plan for quality management and prioritizing institutional excellence in catering and accommodation.

The significance of the impact of quality on products and services used daily, on companies themselves and on the society in general, led Initiative Directions (BID)  to create a modern TQM (Total Quality Management) made up of 100 Points of Quality and the International Awards to recognize companies that met such criteria.

The event played host to outstanding personalities from the business world.

http://www.bid-qualitysummit.com/

http://www.ihambasafarilodge.com/en/

UGANDA TOURIST GUIDES COMPLETE PROFESSIONAL TRAINING

Tourist guides upon graduating in Queen Elizabeth National Park

58 Uganda tourist guides, are now certified tour guides, after completing a three-week training course under the United Nations Development Program(UNDP)courtesy of Uganda Tourism Board(UTB).

The initiative, spearheaded by Uganda Safari Guides Association(USAGA), supported by Association of Uganda Tour Operators(AUTO),Uganda Wildlife Institute Katwe, Uganda Wildlife Authority(UWA) and endorsed by the Ministry of Tourism was held in Queen Elizabeth National Park.

The participants were presented with their certificates during a graduation ceremony at the Students Centre of the National Park, on Tuesday (May 19). They have mastered the art of field guiding, tour driving, dining skills, customer service, communication and foreign language basics, animal behavior and other related guiding skills.

The function was graced by CEO UTB Dr. Stephen Asiimwe, The ED UWA represented by the Director of Conservation Mr. John Makombo, the Chief Conservation area Manager Mr. Charles Tumwesigye, Project Manager at UTB, Instructors from Uganda Wildlife Institute Katwe, and officials from USAGA.

Herbert Byaruhanga lectures the tour guides

Training Officer and Chairman USAGA Hebert Byaruhanga thanked the stakeholders for embracing the initiative which is part of the series of trainings organized by the guides association to instill professionalism in the fragile industry .

The training took place between May 2 and May 19.

UGANDA ZOO NAMED THE BEST IN EAST,CENTRAL AND WEST AFRICA

UGANDA Wildlife Education Center (UWEC) formerly known as Entebbe Zoo has been named as the best zoo in the East, Central and West African Region.

The zoo has also been appointed a coordinator for all zoos and zquariums in the East, Central and West African region under the umbrella zoo organization, the Pan African Association of Zoos and Aquaria (PAAZA).

According to the Executive Director Uganda Wildlife Education Center James Musinguzi, Entebbe Zoo will be required to establish and popularize the international zoo operation standards.

“The selection of UWEC as the best zoo follows our excellent performance in the recently concluded international PAAZA Audit that was conducted by three renowned zoo auditors,” said Musinguzi.

Musinguzi identified the auditors as John Werth the Executive Director of the African Association of Zoos and Aquaria in South Africa, Katherine Visser a primate specialist from Johannesburg Zoo and Mark Howitt from South Africa.

http://www.newvision.co.ug/news/668512-entebbe-zoo-named-best-in-east-and-central-africa.html

# OPERATION SAVE MOSES MAPESA

The Former  Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) ED’s  condition is deteriorating  after being diagnosed  with a  rare blood and bone-marrow disorder called  Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS).

MDS is a condition that compromises the body ability to manufacture its own blood. This  implies that he has to undergo a bone marrow transplant or  else he risks succumbing to leukemia.

Doctors have recommended that Mapesa needs an urgent bone marrow transplant, which is estimated to cost him over $100,000 (approximately Shs 300m) in India.

It is against this background that Mapesa’s friends launched a fundraising drive codenamed “Operation save Moses Mapesa” at Ibamba restaurant, Uganda museum in Kamwokya, last Thursday. Eunice Mahoro Duli, a former colleague at UWA, who is heading the initiative, noted that although Mapesa might be able to raise some funds towards his treatment, the amount required is simply huge, hence the call for help.

Kindly join us in this operation to save our own tourism stakeholder.

Send Mobile Money: Sylvia Nafula Mapesa- 0700 754 182

For Cash contact Sam Mwandha: 0776 890 424/ 0704 938 034

Let us save a life!

http://www.observer.ug/news-headlines/37661-shs-300m-can-save-mapesa